New console reveals from top competitors like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo reign supreme in the world of consumer electronics. They’re not like yearly iPhone or Galaxy S press conferences featuring “suitable” tech for 18 months. The systems represent the cutting-edge specs of the day and become engines for your favorite games for the next five-plus years.

Except, with Sony’s and Microsoft’s “hype conferences,” the drama and anticipation for the future of entertainment gets replaced with uncertainty. We see some of the novel features under the hood, the shiny graphics and recognizable franchises showing off the visuals. Yet many gamers look at the stream of reveals say, “Really, Is that all?”

Then, when the ugly information gets out, the parties shuts down before they start. Xbox One’s questionable used games strategy and online requirements already have longtime brobox fans at the fence. A great presentation would’ve made unfortunate information trickling out the back door less problematic. However, when you fall flat like MS did, the negatives get a bigger spotlight.

PS4’s showing three months back looks less egregious in hindsight yet still met mixed reactions. The new touch-enabled controller could open the door for fresh gameplay or more gimmicks. Also, cloud access to PS1, 2 and 3 games seem like an alright solution to backwards compatibility. Then again their showing didn’t drop any bombs or warrant an inordinate amount of praise.

We all knew PS4 was on the horizon well before any official announcement. Why would Sony be so guarded about their latest, greatest creation? They understandably shouldn’t show off everything to maintain its mystique or whatever. At the same time it’s plain to see, aside from a few demonstrations, they didn’t show enough.

Both exhibitions showed off new games but nothing from either side revealed how they’ll drastically push the bar in game design. So far we’re promised smoother UIs, better integration of television, social networking, some bells and whistles like group skype chat and the same stuff we’ve been playing in a new coat of paint. All these facets create a perfect storm of lukewarm publicity and curbed optimism from potential customers.

The backlash for PS4 and Xbox One isn’t about being overexposed to games or neckbeards expecting the world from them. What we’ve seen is self-inflicted buzz kills from Sony and Microsoft. Why create previews for your flagship product when you can’t support it with noteworthy offerings yet? E3 will give each another chance to win people over. Yet the consoles resemble lateral steps rather than sizable leaps like their predecessors.

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That was one poor showing today. Their best advancements in technology shown were for people who do not have cable or satellite tv. Other than that, NONE of their games excluding CoD Ghosts actually showed how the game plays.

EA disappointed me showing videos, instead of actual real time gameplay of Madden 25 or FIFA. And as far as NBA Live goes, holy shit does it still look awful in motion. Plus, lets be honest, NO ONE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EVERDOM will switch FROM NBA 2K to Live.

Another thing that frustrated me, is Microsoft continues to pay to have people show up like Steven Spielberg or Roger Goddell, instead of showing the actual games.

The announcement of a Spielberg tv show is pointless, since they always get cancelled. And the Microsoft/NFL partnership is to try to get coaches to use tablets instead of paper playbooks. Pointless to gamers and consumers.

Don’t matter, it’ll be 2014-15 before I unbox it so I don’t really care either way. As lone as my 3 keeps pumpin I’m good. Plus I wait until the used gamed section fills up and the price drops before I jump. They didn’t officially shit on the trade-in game did they?

1. Disc hackers and mod chippers who will bypass the 1 disc 1 account fuckery
2. A Gamestop/Sony/Nintendo threesome that will lock Microsoft out of the used games business. Microsoft will be unleveraged when it gets its head out of its ass

“?” Couldn’t one theoretically copy the installed game file to a usb and upload it onto another system. The article said the account would be necessary for install not game play.

You give them too much credit. Ridiculously high PS3 launch prices and online passes for new, first-party games already refute your claim about Sony systems being all about the customer. Sony, Nintendo and MS have given plenty examples of being anti-consumer.

I know all businesses are in the business of making money. Sony will play to early adopters like apple and Nike to sneaker heads, but they do drop the prices eventually (hence my incentive to wait..well that and my anti-1st adoption stance (why pay to beta test?)). I don’t buy that online stuff so I don’t spend that dough. Sony does know which side of the bread is buttered. No company is all about the consumer, they’re all about their bottom line and with that, Sony has not put themselves in the same cross hairs as Microsoft.

So you acknowledge the PS3 was overpriced at launch and playing to beta test isn’t smart. Then sidestep the complete arrogance in dropping a new system at $500-$600 dollars with a rough library for a year and a half while saying Sony hasn’t put themselves in the same crosshairs at Microsoft. Ok…

Also saying you don’t buy something like online games w/ passes doesn’t stop it from being a widespread issue. Online passes are bad across the board.

I truly don’t believe either company is stupid enough to require a constant online connection, as well as removing the possibility to buy second hand games. We all know how that played out for the new Sim cities.

If they are, fuck both of them and let what will later be known as the hacking wars commence

Spin it however you want but the PS3 was still grossly overpriced with a weak library. That’s a key example of being anti-consumer. Sony used to have the gaming market in a stranglehold in the PS1 and PS2 days via strong libraries and initial console prices which were still cheaper than the PS3 if you account for inflation. Now they’re neck and neck with the likes of Microsoft worldwide while Nintendo is way ahead of both of them.

You don’t sell a system by only having nice features. You sell it by pricing it accordingly and providing games people want to buy. Nintendo and Sony had their difficulties by disregarding these facts and lost market share over being aloof. Now it may be Microsoft’s turn again.

Honestly I don’t care much about the library(I play what i play and they keep making it for the 3) and I don’t give a shit about the online games since I don’t play and its not like cancer or AIDS where its an actual issue with life so I don’t consider it a widespread anything. Anybody who shells out big money to be first gets what they deserve.

The fact big business is in it for big money is a known known. The fact Sony will chauk their systems full of features, drop the price over time and not gouge on used games is smart business centered around its consumer base. You can split hairs about the number of usb jacks all day but the point is MS is fronting like they got all the juice but is coming off really thirsty.

Having a light lineup at launch IS anti-consumer. How can a meager line up give a system a good initial impression to potential buyers? Also every console hasn’t had that problem. NES, Super NES and Dreamcast had good launch lineups. Only Dreamcast didn’t pan out in the long run from that group.

Xbox 360 actually outsold PS3 in their respective launch month so I don’t know where you got that info from. [www.gamasutra.com]

I originally said MS was anti-consumer so I don’t know what you’re trying to prove that latter point either. 360 also didn’t have a good launch library, the RROD fiasco and XBL’s sub fee are just a reasons why I hold that stance. I also said may pay for their follies again with their One introduction since they showed everything but games.

Xbox 360’s history doesn’t stop selling a system at a high price with a weak launch library from being anti-consumer either. The PS3’s features didn’t make up for its starting library and the numbers show it.

No it’s not. First off, A sheer number of launch titles does not account for a launch’s quality. It just means more games were available. Also, there weren’t 29 launch titles for PS3 available at the same time in the US, Japan and Europe. [www.1up.com] I never even used number of launch games to make my point, either.

Super NES’s included included games like Pilotwings and F-Zero which showed off the cutting edge hardware at the time with great gameplay, Gradius 3 which was a quality-side scrolling shooter and Super Mario World: easily one of the best games ever made. Nothing in PS3’s launch is in the same class as that game.

Also, once again, every console does not launch with a weak library of games as seen with the Super NES. Do you really think the Dreamcast had a weak launch library? Starting out your system with exclusives like Sonic Adventure, NFL 2K, Soulcalibur along Power Stone and games like NFL Blitz 2000, Hydro Thunder and Ready 2 Rumble which were much better than their versions on N64 and PS1 is a good starting point unlike the-then prohibitively expensive PS3 which offered Resistance, other forgettable first party games and third party games you could get on the 360.

My point still stands about Sony’s anti-consumer launch tying into their reduced worldwide current gen market share in relation to their dominant PS1 and 2 run. Having a marginally better performing launch than 360 worldwide doesn’t stop that. PS3’s botched launch played a huge role relinquishing their lead while Nintendo gave people something they didn’t know they wanted with the Wii. MS moved up considerably in relation to last gen via launching a year early despite putting out a weak launch line up and a poorly constructed system. Nintendo is at the top while dropping in the same month as the PS3. Sony moved backwards in terms of current console market share this time around.

I’d say there was definitely a period where the Nintendo Wii (original one), PS3 & Xbox 360 coexisted. A lot of my friends had a Wii plus one or the other consoles because the Wii games were just way more fun if you had company over on the pick up and play side. Wii sports FTW!!!! Then the novelty of the Wii started to disappear and it was only Xbox & PS3 but all three definitely did coexist at one point.

But the one that is about to get tossed off is the Wii U and Nintendo as a maker of home consoles I’m not scared for MS, they got the support of the industry (EA said theyre not making games for Wii U) and it will sell.

The PS3, 360, and Wii were not successful at the same times. The PS3 did not become successful until 360 sales lost their momentum and the Wii had already saturated most of the market. It’s only because of the length of the generation that they were able to all survive.

Nintendo doomsayers know not what they speak of. Nintendo will always be around. People will always (*always*) buy their systems and portables for the first party titles.

The 360 had three big advantages going into last generation: 1) They launched first. 2) They were the only company with a reputation for online gaming. 3) They were smart enough to pay third-party publishers for first-release rights.

They will have none of those this time. PSN is strong, and more importantly, free. People do not want to pay for online gaming. Sony won’t let them negotiate those release deals now that they know to look out for it. Sony has stronger first-party developers, and they have a better relationship with indies.

Not to mention everything they’ve shown so far is exactly what was wrong with the 360. The chief designer of the 360 (who know longer works for MS) wrote an article several months ago about the 360’s failures, and this is just a continuation of those.

They’re too busy trying to revolutionize the way games and TV coexist while Nintendo has already done so.

Also: EA is making games for the Wii U. They have confirmed it. They will just be making less. Don’t believe everything you hear. Do you really think a major third party publisher wouldn’t make titles for all three consoles?

I watched most of the Xbox One presentation and honestly I was not that impressed. I still don’t see what will be so different about the next gen consoles so far. I doubt they will bring anything amazing to the table. It doesn’t matter to me anyway. I probably won’t buying either console at least for a couple of years after they hit the market.

My favorite thing about the next generation is 1080p. When most current gen games are 480-600p the difference will be noticeable. Cloud services seem to be the other selling point which I don’t care That much about.

So true, I don’t want some new dashboard that allows me to see in great detail how your prices are fucking me right up the ass. Just let me play the game, I skip all this shit 99% of the time I turn on the xbox to play something anyway.

E3 is next month. Which is typically reserved for all of the stuff for all the stuff the author just complained about not being shown. Sony did the conference 9 months away from it’s probably launch date. MS did it 7 months away. The point of either conference was to get the people talking, which is exactly what they’re doing. In Sony’s case, I’m not even sure if they have a final design for what the PS4 is even going to look like, which is why they haven’t shown it to anybody.

Be that as it may, part of the problem with conferences like this, is people misunderstand their purpose. The purpose isn’t to let the full cat out of the bag. If they show everything now, what are they going to show at E3? The biggest gaming convention in the industry? Right.

At this point, the people from both respective companies just want to give gamers something to talk about until they get around to revealing everything. Sony seems to be focused on games, MS seems to be focused on taking over your living room. However, given we still don’t know what either one can actually do (since these systems don’t actually exist in the consumer space) it’s simple advertisement for the company.

Gamers may misunderstand the purpose but I don’t think that’s the big problem. I still think, if Sony and MS wanted to build proper hype, they should’ve shown more gameplay demos to excite fans. They didn’t and that’s the major issue from my perspective. I also addressed the fact that showing everything or too much at this early stage isn’t the purpose of these events.

What each company showed got people talking but not in overall excitement. That’s why I’m wondering if these conferences were worth the trouble. Sony and MS should’ve waited until E3 if they didn’t have more gameplay footage ready for their products.

The “console war” is a joke to make people with low self esteem feel better about themselves after making a purchase. Basically having a receipt saying “I’m right!” somehow turns people into blind douchebags.

With that being said, hopefully I can scoop both of these, but the whole online DRM shit is somewhat troubling when considering scooping up the Xbox One. Might just have to get a PC and pass on both major systems.

I’ll get them both (because I ball so hard), but guarantee Xbox One will get more action,

Gaming DVR feature to edit replays of me shitting on kids is saweet,
Kinnect, Voice activation might just be epic
Apps on apps on apps, Skype, NFL Ticket, BluRay
That controller is sexy
Xbox Live is unmatched
Not switching inputs from TV to Xbox

hahahaha as my name says it all i just wanted to ask all the Xbox fanboys how does it feel to know that Xboxone is dead before it’s even released… Sony completely crushed MS in every way from shown games to console price to no DRM bull**it oh and no need for always being online to play games… and did i mention 100$ cheaper? and PSN remains free and i am sure you will find something to complain about like idk maybe PS+ required to fully enjoy online play? hahaha nearly every PS3 owner is a plus member and even if not the PS+ will not be a requirement for Multiplayer only an enhancement to close it off read my name and have a good night because i know i will PS4 Is the King of this gens console crowning game over.

:PS don’t bother replying keep that anger bottled up since i’ll never read this thread again,and go buy an Xboxone be one of the 5mil worldwide people who purchase one.

*Snap Mode
*T.V. If you don’t got Cable (If you do then it’s a CON, why more T.V.)
*May Run Smoother
*Better Exclusives, Halo 5, Froza in Examples
*MINECRAFT!!!!! Comes with Fancy Graphics Now on XboxOne
*And More T.V.
*Also more T.V.
*Last but not least More T.V.

Cons

PS4

*not determined yet, it just got announced yesterday.

XBOXOne Cons

*TOO MUCH T.V. Less focoused on Gamers and more on T.V.
*STILL GOT TO PAY FOR ONLINE. Ughhhhhh
*NO 2nd Selling, What I mean is no game trading and sharing, GameStop will have abounch of work to do, just for selling used games.
Also the game you play when you first buy it, and insert it to your XboxOne, then it will only be playable on that one Xbox. It will have a micro reader in the disc and Xbox.